Tuesday, November 30

Preview: Rado Miniatures seven new items for December 2021.

Rado Miniatures has four new figures and some extra 35th scale details spread over seven releases in their December new releases. We look at the setting they are from & the figures in the set in our preview...

Preview: Rado Miniatures seven new items for December 2021.
 
The Subject: British & German soldiers during Operation Epsom, Normandy 1944
The British advance to the west of Caen from 24 to 29 June 1944 was the time and place, the capture of German soldiers, who look rather young, maybe 12th SS are the subject. 
Operation Epsom, also known as the First Battle of the Odon, was a British offensive in the Second World War between 26 and 30 June 1944, during the Battle of Normandy. The offensive was intended to outflank and seize the German-occupied city of Caen, an important Allied objective, in the early stages of Operation Overlord, the Allied invasion of northwest Europe.
Preceded by Operation Martlet to secure the right flank of the advance, Operation Epsom began early on 26 June, with units of the 15th (Scottish) Infantry Division advancing behind a rolling artillery barrage. Air cover was sporadic for much of the operation, because poor weather in England forced the last-minute cancellation of bomber support. 
Accompanied by the 31st Tank Brigade, the 15th (Scottish) Division made steady progress and by the end of the first day had overrun much of the German outpost line, although some difficulties remained in securing the flanks. In mutually-costly fighting over the following two days, a foothold was secured across the River Odon and efforts were made to expand this, by capturing tactically valuable points around the salient and moving up the 43rd (Wessex) Infantry Division. By 30 June, after German counter-attacks, some of the British forces across the river were withdrawn and the captured ground consolidated, bringing the operation to a close.
Many casualties were suffered by both sides but unlike General Bernard Montgomery, the Allied commander in Normandy, Generalfeldmarschall Erwin Rommel was unable to withdraw units into reserve after the battle, as they were needed to hold the front line. 

On June 28, a sniper of the “Hitlerjugend” is taken by soldiers of the British 49th D.I.
The British retained the initiative, attacked several more times over the following two weeks and captured Caen in Operation Charnwood in mid-July. Interpretations of the intention and conduct of Operation Epsom differ but there is general agreement concerning its effect on the balance of forces in Normandy. 
The Germans contained the offensive but only by committing all their strength, including two panzer divisions just arrived in Normandy, which had been intended for an offensive against Allied positions around Bayeux.
The figure set: Move, Jerry! Operation Epsom, Normandy 1944
The idea was to portray a young SS POW so what first comes to mind is the 12th SS. But it can be used anywhere on the Western front at that time.

British/Commonwealth trooper, 1943-45
1/35th scale
Set No #RDM35042 
1 figure cast in grey resin
Price: €14,90
This typically dressed "Tommy" is seen in full battle dress, with regulation tin hat pushed to one side on his head, battledress and pants with boots covered in galoshes and his trusty Lee Enfield at his port as he walks forward. Sculpted by Radek Pituch in 35th scale and cast in grey resin.

W-SS NCO POW, 1944-45
1/35th scale
Set No # RDM35043 
1 figure cast in grey resin
1 figure cast in grey resin
Price: €52,00
The first of the German soldiers in this release set. He sure looks young, and the SS camouflaged smock he is wearing says he could probably be from the 12th SS, but how you cast him in your diorama is up to you. You can clearly see the threads that act as buttons (a shortage of metal and materials) and the opened pockets of his smock after he was quickly searched by his captors.

W-SS Panzersoldat POW, 1944-45
1/35th scale
Set No # RDM35044 
1 figure cast in grey resin
Price: €14,90
This other "Jerry" also looks very young, so we think he could well be a Hitlerjugend soldier again. This fellow is painted up in the boxart to have those pants made from Italian captured cloth and the Panzer wrap on his top torso. No helmet, an opened pistol ouch (empty) and his hands up as the slender youth walks forward make for a pretty good representation of the young men captured in that time and place.

W-SS POWs, Normandy 1944
1/35th scale
Set No # RDM35045 
2 figures cast in grey resin
Price: €27,90
These two soldiers are seen together as a pair in this set of two figures. They match each other in stature and body language as well as the right clothing for the time period and place.

British/Commonwealth troops, 1943-45
1/35th scale
Set No # RDM35046 
2 figures cast in grey resin
Price: €27,90
On the job and looking to get these "Jerries" in the "pen" before afternoon tea, these two "Tommies" certainly look like they mean business. They are matching in uniforms and gate as they walk confidently forward...

Move, Jerry! Operation Epsom, Normandy 1944
1/35th scale
Set No # RDM35047 
4 figures cast in grey resin
Price: €52
Finally, the four come together in a completed scene. It looks rather convincing to me, with the British and German soldiers looking a lot like they do in the photos at the top of this article. They are sold as a set for €52 which isn't bad for four figures sculpted with such detail to them.

German WW2 Tunic Buttons
1/35th scale
Set No # RDM35S04
3D master by Alex Lautsch
60 pcs. cast in resin
A set of 60 resin German WW2 Tunic Buttons, suitable for all plastic injected and resin figures in 1/35th scale. Master design and 3D print Alex Lautsch.

These items are ready for shipping starting December 5th!